Hunter Safety

What is Safety and What is an Accident? Safety is preventing accidents from happening Accidents are unintentional or unexpected happenings with someone or something being hurt or killed as the result

Keys to Safety Attitude Skill Knowledge Most Important Key: Attitude You are the brain of the gun and if you have a bad attitude, you will be unsafe!

Four Human Traits That Cause Accidents Ignorance Carelessness Excitement Competition or Peer Pressure

What is a firearm? A device which propels a bullet or projectile from a tube to a target, using a controlled explosive.

What Are the Parts to a Firearm? -----------Barrel-------------- Action -------------------------Stock--------------------------

Muzzle Loaders Most early firearms – Loaded by pouring gunpowder and shoving projectile in through front end of the barrel

Modern Cartridges Powder Rifle Ammunition has 4 basic parts primer bullet case

Shotgun Shells Shot -Shotgun shells have 5 components -May have a single slug Wad Smokeless Powder Primer Case

Differences Between a Rifle and a Shotgun Rifle fires a single projectile called a bullet Rifle has a thicker barrel Rifle has groves (or rifling) in end of barrel to put a spin on the projectile

Differences Between a Rifle and a Shotgun Continued A shotgun usually fires a cluster of projectiles called shot Barrel is thin and smooth Shotguns have tightening of the barrel at the muzzle which is called choke Full-keeps shot close together Modified- Improved cylinder Cylinder bore-no constriction

Hinge Action A hinge or break action which works like a hinge on a door Reveals at a glance if the firearm is loaded Often selected as the first gun for a young hunter

Bolt Action Works much like an old fashioned door bolt To open, lift the handle up and then pull to the rear Cartridge should be ejected as bolt is pulled back

Lever Action Old West type Worked by shoving extension of the trigger guard downward and forward One of the most dangerous actions because it has an exposed hammer

Pump Action Also called slide or trombone Pump will only open after it is fired

Semi-automatic Usually has a clip Must pull trigger each time to fire

10 Commandments of Shooting 1 Always point muzzle in a safe direction 2 Treat every firearm or bow with the same respect you would show a loaded gun or knocked arrow 3 Be sure of your target and what is in front of and beyond your target 4 Unload firearms and unstring recurve and long bows when not in use 5 Handle firearms, arrows and ammunition carefully 6 Know your safe zone of fire and stick to it 7 Control your emotions when it comes to safety 8 Wear hearing and eye protection 9 Don’t drink alcoholic beverages or take drugs before or while handling firearms or bow and arrows 10 Be aware of additional circumstances which require added caution or safety awareness